Jonathan dillon



J. DILLON.

i ff%g M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JONATHAN DILLON, OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.,

METHOD OF REGULATING THE WINDING OF TIMEKEEPERS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 22,110, dated November 23, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JONATHAN DILLON, of \Vashington, District of Columbia, have invented av stopwork to prevent coiled springs from what is technically termed overwinding which consists of a piece of steel or metal of any kind inserted into a groove or slot cut in the barrel and receiving its momentum from the outer or any other coil of the spring in said barrel.

This invention is considered an improvement in the art of watchmaking and other similar manufactures where like machinery is operated, and may be applied to any motors which require winding.

Figure 1 represents a top view of the barrel with the cover off and my stop piece A resting on the spring and the male piece, B on the barrel arbor. Fig. 2 shows the barrel cover with my stop piece A inserted and the male piece, B, resting on the cover. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the barrel and spring with the foot stop C between the coils. Fig. 4 is a side view of the stop and foot. Fig. 5 is a top view of the stop.

The principle on which my invention is based, is, as the spring in process of winding becomes drawn in toward the center the outer coils are the last acted upon or drawn in and the first to return, so if I want the spring to be wound up as many turns as possible I place the foot of the stop against the outer coil, if a lesser number on the second and so on according to the number of turns required.

My invention does not consist in the mode of inserting or fastening the piece in the groove or slot, or in the mere shape thereof as other forms might be substituted but consists in the application of the principle of deriving the power from the coils of said spring causing the spring to act upon or regulate itself and become its own governor thereby preventing the possibility of straining the hook or otherwise injuring the teeth of the barrel pinion or other appliance into which they (the teeth) act.

The advantages of my invention over the old mode are manifold. I will briefly state two, simplicity of construction and durability. The old mode or the one in general use is termed by the trade the male and female stop work, the male piece is on the arbor which is turned in winding and has one projecting tooth. The female piece has four teeth, and is on a nipple, turned in the barrel cover, to receive it and is secured on with a screw, both of which parts require very nice fitting and being always in action "ery soon become deranged. It is almostimpossible to make the female piece without a cutting engine or the nipple to receive it without a universal tool both of which are very expensive and not in general use so by the frailty of the nipple the strain and pressure that it is subjected to by winding in a few years after the watch leaves the fin ishers hands the natural consequence is that the *atch is deprived of all stop work.

By my invention I remove the female piece which causes all the trouble and substitute therefor a lever or slide piece which is my stop and can be made to act efficiently and can be easily manufactured by any one in the trade.

In order that my invention may be more fully understood I proceed to describe the manner in which said stop may be formed and inserted. First I cut the slot in the barrel or other appliance the slot or hole may be any shape that suggests itself to the taste of the operative. I then fit a piece of steel to the said slot or hole and secure it in with screws or in any of the ordinary modes used on such occasions with the foot of said piece of steel between whichever coil of the spring I may want it to work on. It may be secured to the spring or not, at the pleasure of the workman.

hat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is The herein described method of making springs or coils selfregulating by the use of the slot and lever or by any other similar devices acting substantially in the same manner for the purposes and uses herein expressed.

JONATHAN DILLON.

Attest:

JOHN S. HoLLINGsHEAD, J. L. KIDwnLL. 

